Alan Bates

[blacknorth]

Apologies, I can see now how Caretaker would translate as Guardian in French - should have looked at your location.

[cornershop15]

Yes, I remember the Butley screening on BBC2, it was very welcome, thought I'd never see it. Didn't see In Celebration until I go the internet and was able to track down a Collector's NTSC copy from the US.



Thankfully, they've both been released on DVD now and I picked them up.



Was never very keen on Zorba - I recorded it from Channel4 in the early 90's when they still had the nerve/bravery to show B&W films at 10PM on weekday nights. I felt it was a bit too much Quinn and very melodramatic.



If you get a chance see Separate Tables in which he has dual roles opposite Julie Christie. And The Return of the Soldier is a fine film too. In fact, lots of good stuff - we need a Bates retrospective at the BFI.

I kept thinking Zorba The Greek was shown on C4 and you've proved me right! I may even have a copy of the recording lying about but I never watched it. The film has more of an interest to me as I'm half-Greek ... and I still haven't seen Never On Sunday either. I DID see those productions with Alan and Julie though. The Separate Tables adaptation was quite good as I remember (though I preferred the film, which gave David Niven and Wendy Hiller their surprise Oscars) and they were reunited for the fourth time in that Return Of The Soldier, which I didn't enjoy so much - even with the added bonus of Glenda Jackson!



Yes, it's true Channel used to be very good for lengthy B&W films and I can remember Ship Of Fools being shown on the anniversary of Vivien Leigh's birth, which happened to be Guy Fawkes Day. Queen Of Spades, with Edith Evans, was on one Sunday evening. Can you believe that?! As I've said elsewhere, 1990 does seem to be about the time rare film showings on TV declined. A few years ago the Samuel L. Jackson remake of Shaft was shown at exactly the same time, same night and same channel as the Edith Evans picture. That sums up Channel 4 these days. In Celebration was a one-off showing alright.

[ram4553]

It's possible the Turgenev was recorded from the stalls. He won a Tony for that, didn't he?



Glad you agree about Spoto, thought I was in a mad minority, as I hadn't heard any other complaints.

Our Public Television stations sometimes get funds to record stage works and later televise them. Though I find the filming of staged performances sometimes distracting--especially in the often souped-up editing--it is often better than no record. Wish more stage productions would be preserved this way. Forget lame attempts at reviving the variety show format for American TV. Showcase a filmed play or musical once a month...



Anyway, yes Bates received another Tony Award for "Fortune's Fool;" his other win was "Butley." And Langella also carted home another for featured performer.



Spoto. He certainly gains the confidence and cooperation of numerous folks for his bios. I'll admit the revelations about Bates' personal life were...revealing. I wanted more observations about his career choices.



I'm sure some film fest organization somewhere has done a Bates retro. I'd like to see something full-blown, and not just the usual suspects (Georgy Girl, Women in Love, Far From the Madding Crowd, etc.) A few of his lesser-known roles have gotten exposure through retros honoring Schlesinger and playwrights such as Pinter and Bennett. I want Alan, all about Alan, 24/7. <lol>

[blacknorth]

I kept thinking Zorba The Greek was shown on C4 and you've proved me right! I may even have a copy of the recording lying about but I never watched it. The film has more of an interest to me as I'm half-Greek ... and I still haven't seen Never On Sunday either. I DID see those productions with Alan and Julie though. The Separate Tables adaptation was quite good as I remember (though I preferred the film, which gave David Niven and Wendy Hiller their surprise Oscars) and they were reunited for the fourth time in that Return Of The Soldier, which I didn't enjoy so much - even with the added bonus of Glenda Jackson!

In the same season with Zorba C4 also screened Night of the Iguana and The Fixer, it was a very useful time for screenings.



I can't agree with you about Soldier, I think it's a splendid film, like The Shooting Party. Many of Bates' 80's films are unfairly ignored or maligned - Nijinksky, Quartet, The Trespasser, Secret Friends, We The The World Of You - I find them frequently more interesting and satisfying than many acclaimed films from that period. He had his fair share of clunkers though - Duet For One, The Wicked Lady, lol.



One piece of television from that time which never surfaces is Very Like A Whale. I think even the Bates archive are missing that one. As usual, I've given up on seeing it.

[blacknorth]

Spoto. He certainly gains the confidence and cooperation of numerous folks for his bios. I'll admit the revelations about Bates' personal life were...revealing. I wanted more observations about his career choices.



I'm sure some film fest organization somewhere has done a Bates retro. I'd like to see something full-blown, and not just the usual suspects (Georgy Girl, Women in Love, Far From the Madding Crowd, etc.) A few of his lesser-known roles have gotten exposure through retros honoring Schlesinger and playwrights such as Pinter and Bennett. I want Alan, all about Alan, 24/7. <lol>

I read the bio too for career info and was disappointed - on the personal side Spoto's general atmosphere of revelation mystified me and I attributed it to the fact that he actually had no real interest in his subject matter and was being salacious. I was reminded of Sheridan Morley's bio of James Mason - a touch of character assassination.



My local art-house cinema screened Butley after his death, but the sound was pitched so low it was a pain to sit through. I was sure the BBC would have screened a few Bates performances from their archive, especially after the deaths of Pinter and Simon Gray, but, as time pases, it looks increasingly unlikely. Shame, missed opportunity.

[ram4553]

I was sure the BBC would have screened a few Bates performances from their archive, especially after the deaths of Pinter and Simon Gray, but, as time pases, it looks increasingly unlikely. Shame, missed opportunity.

I must jump on a few comments you made previously. Very Like a Whale?! Who knew?? Exactly the type of thing I'd love to see screened....somewhere. We Think the World of You also overlooked.



The Return of the Soldier. Interesting mention. One of several films I have hesitated giving another chance. And I thought with Glenda Jackson, Julie Christie (be still my heart), and Ann-Margret fussing over Bates I'd be in performance heaven. I've grouped that one I'm afraid with The Hireling and The Virgin and the Gypsy. I remember waiting for the stories to get going, and feeling they never did.



The Shooting Party I enjoyed though. And yes, there are pleasures to be had from Schlesinger's Separate Tables re-teaming Bates and Christie.

[chauncy19]

moon,

yes indeed Le Roi de Coeur is what we know as King of Hearts here in US. Yes wonderful cast including Mr. Bates. Was a cult classic in my college days and saw it many times. Have seen it recently and still think its a treasure.

Thought he was excellent also in Gosford Park another highly enjoyable film.

[torinfan]

I didn't know he had passed away, either. I remember him from "The Rose", as it was a popular film here in the States. It seems to me he should have done more work than what he left behind. A talented and nice looking guy.

[moonfleet]

Apologies, I can see now how Caretaker would translate as Guardian in French - should have looked at your location.

Thanks for the information, blacknorth.



And I think Alan Bates was just marvelous as D.H Lawrence in Women in Love......



mOOn.

[cornershop15]

A powerful portrait of Alan from The British Film and TV Year Book for 1975-76.

The same photo was first used in the '73/74 edition.



I enjoyed seeing The Collection last week - the Harold Pinter play - on DVD and hope

to have something from that for you, along with a few complimentary words, very soon.

[agutterfan]

See below .....

[agutterfan]

Huge fan of this wonderful actor. I discovered him in the mid-70s on a school trip to see Far From the Madding Crowd, which was on the GCE 'O'-level syllabus for 1974/5. See DVD Beaver for pics from the R1 DVD, which is in correct aspect ratio and running time. I then saw him in A Kind of Loving, and I was hooked. Loved his Simon Gray collaborations. He never played the star game (and having read Spoto's biography, I can see why). Just look at this list of films he made in the 60s! The quality of the work is amazing:

The Entertainer (1960)
Whistle Down the Wind (1961)
A Kind of Loving (1962)
The Caretaker (1963)
Zorba the Greek (1964)
Nothing But the Best (1964)
Georgy Girl (1966)
Le Roi de Coeur (1966) (UK title: King of Hearts)
Far From the Madding Crowd (1967)
The Fixer (1968)
Women in Love (1969)

and that's just one of 5 decades worth of work! And what a handsome man too ....

[Windyridge]

I have a tendency to repeat myself, so forgive me if I've posted this before somewhere else. I was privileged to meet Alan Bates towards the end of his life. A mutual friend introduced us backstage, and, despite there being several other people there, he remembered my name when introducing me on to someone else later, which of course endeared him to me more. He was charming and funny and clearly devoted to his surviving son. The same mutual friend invited me to Sir Alan's Memorial Service at the Royal Court, where I saw (and met a few) what seemed like everyone who is or was anything important in British film and theatre. It was an incredible night.

[didi-5]

What a lovely story Windyridge!

I'm a huge fan of Alan Bates. Aside from titles already mentioned in the last few posts I particularly enjoyed watching him in Whistle Down the Wind, Nijinsky, Oliver's Travels, and A Kind of Loving.

On stage I only saw him once, sadly, as Antony at the RSC. I would have loved to have seen more theatre performances of his.

That biography (authorized by him I believe) is excellent btw.

[NowVoyager]

I was lucky enough to see Alan Bates in 'Otherwise Engaged' at Queen's Theatre in 1975. I think it must have been December because that was when I was visiting London as a uni student from Australia - our summer holidays. He was, of course wonderful.

I also enjoyed his performance in 'Oliver's Travels' with the very talented Bill Paterson.

Bates was one of that amazing RADA cohort of the mid-fifties which included Albert Finney and John Stride, among others.

[agutterfan]

That biography (authorized by him I believe) is excellent btw.

Actually it was written after his death, he always refused interviews about his private life, see introduction by Mr Spoto. Having read it I casn recommend it. For all fans of this great and underrated actor like myself, there's an excellent website for him, see link.

Alan Bates Archive

[didi-5]

Yes I have read the book - however he was happy for the information in it to be shared as long as it was after his death which is the same as being authorized in his lifetime. Sorry if that wasn't clear!

[Dame Starry]

.......this great and underrated actor............

I wouldn't agree that he was 'underrated' at all.

[agutterfan]

I wouldn't agree that he was 'underrated' at all.

But compare how many posts he has compared to, say, Dirk Bogarde, or even my beloved Jenny Agutter. Also, whenever you read, see on TV or hear people talking about the great generation of 60s British actors, everyone mentions Finney, O'Toole etc. How many say Alan Bates? And I wonder how many people under 30 are aware of him? I deplore this state of affairs by the way!

[dremble wedge]

But compare how many posts he has compared to, say, Dirk Bogarde, or even my beloved Jenny Agutter. Also, whenever you read, see on TV or hear people talking about the great generation of 60s British actors, everyone mentions Finney, O'Toole etc. How many say Alan Bates? And I wonder how many people under 30 are aware of him? I deplore this state of affairs by the way!

I think that may be because he lived a fairly quiet life, never really courting publicity outside of his work. An utterly splendid fellow though...